Systems and methods for determining usage information

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are described for determining usage information. A computing device may determine an advertising event associated with content. The computing device may cause activation of a data capture component to capture data at one or more times associated with the advertising event. The data can be analyzed to determine usage information indicative of user behavior during the advertising event.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/848,165, filed Jun. 23, 2022, which is acontinuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/149,857,filed Oct. 2, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,412,295 issued Aug. 9, 2022,which are each hereby incorporated by reference for any and allpurposes.

BACKGROUND

Content is often displayed with advertisements to users. A targetedadvertisement may be more effective and beneficial for a particularviewer and a company associated with the advertisement. Someconventional systems are unable to gain any information about a user'sresponse to an advertisement. Other proposed systems are overly complex,gather too much information, and are too invasive of privacy. These andother shortcomings are addressed by the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods are described for determining usage informationassociated with content. A content device may be sending or otherwiseoutputting content for a user. An advertising event (e.g., break, slot,time period, opportunity) associated with the content may be determined.The advertising event may comprise a start time. A data capturecomponent, such as an audio input component (e.g., microphone), may beactivated before the start time. Data, such as audio data, may bedetermined (e.g., generated, recorded, measured) and used to generateone or more metrics, such as noise levels associated with ties before,after, or during the advertising event. The data may also be used todetermine other information, such as keywords, commands, and other useractions. Usage information may be generated by comparing the one or moremetrics, such as comparing a first metric associated with content beforethe advertising event to a second metric associated with (e.g., based ondata captured during) the advertising event. The usage information maybe determined by the content device. Advertisement information may beupdated based on the usage information and used to determine morerelevant advertisements for users.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings show generally, by way of example, but not by wayof limitation, various examples discussed in the present disclosure. Inthe drawings:

The following drawings show generally, by way of example, but not by wayof limitation, various examples discussed in the present disclosure. Inthe drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system for sending content.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example system for sending content.

FIG. 3A is an example audio signal.

FIG. 3B is an example audio signal.

FIG. 3C is an example audio signal.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an example method.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of an example method.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of an example method.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an example operating environment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems and methods are described for determining usage information. Thesystems and/or methods disclosed herein may analyze data associated withan (e.g., audio or other data) advertising event (e.g., break, slot,time period, opportunity) to determine usage information indicative ofuser behavior associated with the advertising event. Data, such as audiodata, determined during the advertising event may be compared to datadetermined before and/or after the advertising event. An audio input(e.g., audio receiver, microphone) may be triggered to record audio dataduring an advertising event to determine a possible effectiveness ofadvertisements (e.g., commercials, etc.) aired during the advertisingevent and allow selection of advertisements that are more interesting toa user in the future. Analysis of certain information, such as noiselevels and other metrics as described herein, allows for more efficientuse of network and processing resources than conventional systems.

A remote control associated with a content device (e.g., a set-top box)may be configured to control the content device. The remote control maybe a dedicated controller or a user device (e.g., a smart phone)configured to perform many different operations. The remote control oruser device may pair with (e.g., connect to, etc.) the content deviceand run an application that allows for control of the content deviceusing navigation controls, voice controls and/or the like. A contentdevice may be tuned to a particular channel at a particular time orstreaming a particular content item.

The content device may be configured to output advertisements duringadvertisement events. Advertising events may be triggered on the contentdevice based on ad scheduling information, such as code, metadata, orother information. An advertising event may be marked by Society ofCable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE)-30 and/or SCTE-35 signalingthat the advertisements are coming up. If the ad scheduling informationis detected, the content device may trigger an activation of an audioinput (e.g., microphone) on the remote control and/or the user device.The use of the audio input and other sensors of a mobile device or otherremote control allows for analysis to be performed without the purchaseof additional costly hardware required by conventional systems.

A data capture component, such as an audio input component (e.g.,microphone), may be configured to capture data. The data capturecomponent may be comprised in the user device or the remote control. Thedata capture component may capture audio data and send the audio data tothe content device. The data capture component may be caused to beactivated prior to (e.g., a few seconds prior to, etc.) an airing of anadvertising event. Audio data determined (e.g., collected, observed,recorded, reported, measured, etc.) during the time prior to the airingof the advertising event may be used to determine ambient noise levelsin a room comprising the content device. The content device maydetermine the ambient noise levels. The content device may send (e.g.,transmit, provide, etc.) the determined audio data associated with(e.g., or captured during) the time just prior to the airing of theadvertising event to a remote system, and the remote system maydetermine the ambient noise levels. The precise control of the timeswhen audio data is captured allows for more efficient use of processingand network bandwidth than conventional systems. The user is given moreprivacy than conventional systems.

The audio input may continue capturing audio data during the airing ofthe advertising event. The content device and/or the remote system mayanalyze the audio data captured during the airing of the advertisingevent to determine an interest in the advertisements being aired. If theanalysis reveals that audio is muted during the advertising event andunmuted at some point during the advertising event, then an assumptionmay be made that there is an interest in an advertisement correspondingto the unmuting. Audio associated with an advertisement may be filteredout of the audio data captured during the airing of the advertisingevent, leaving only audio associated with conversations in the roomand/or other ambient noise. The analysis may comprise natural languageprocessing (NLP) to identify keywords in the audio data. For example,the filtered audio data may comprise utterances of users in proximity tothe audio input and may further comprise keywords. If an identifiedkeyword from the audio data matches a desired keyword in an airedcommercial, then an assumption may be made that there is an interest inthe aired commercial comprising the matched keyword. The analysis maycomprise determining audio level, pitch, and/or frequency variations inconversations. A user may select a particular advertisement using voiceinput to the audio input (e.g., microphone). If a channel change isdetermined, then the audio input may discontinue capturing audiosignals. Account information associated with a user (e.g., a viewer, asubscriber, etc.) may be updated based on the audio signals analyzedjust prior to and during the advertising event. Advertisements morerelevant to the user may be selected in the future based on the updatedaccount information.

FIG. 1 is block diagram showing an example system 100 for determininguser behavior. The system 100 may be configured to deliver content tousers, via a content and/or access network. The system 100 may allowusers to access content via content channels, streaming channels, and/orthe like. The system 100 may be configured to insert advertisementsand/or other relevant content into content accessed by a user. Thesystem 100 may use audio data and/or other captured data to determine auser's reaction to a content, such as an advertisement. The system 100may comprise a variety of devices, such as a first content device 102,an information device 104, an advertisement device 106, a second contentdevice 108, a user device 110, an analysis device 112, and/or the like.

The system 100 may comprise a network 114. The network 114 may beconfigured to communicate data, information, content, and/or the likebetween one or more of the devices of the system 100. The network 114may comprise fiber links, coaxial cable links, a combination thereof,and/or the like. The second content device 108 may be in communicationwith the network 114. The second content device 108 may be incommunication with the network 114 via coaxial cable, fiber opticallinks, the like, and/or any combination of the foregoing. The secondcontent device 108 may communicate over the network 114 using Data overCable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS). The analysis device 112,the first content device 102, the information device 104, and theadvertisement device 106 may be in communication with each other as wellas the second content device 108 via the network 114.

The system 100 may allow access to content via the first content device102. The first content device 102 may be configured for sending contentvia the network 114 to different locations and devices. The firstcontent device 102 may comprise a computing device, such as a server.The first content device 102 may comprise an access platform, such as aconverged access platform for accessing content via a variety of contentplatforms (e.g., cable streaming, internet protocol streaming, and/orthe like). The first content device 102 may comprise one or moretranscoders (e.g., for encoding, encryption, transcoding), multiplexers,packagers (e.g., just-in-time packaging), storage, and/or the like forsending content in a variety of formats and distribution mediums.

The first content device 102 may send content, via the network 114,based on one or more content channels. The content channels may beassociated with corresponding networks, regions, content providers,and/or the like. The content channels may correspond to frequency rangesused to send the content. The content channels may correspond to networklocations. The content channels may be delivered based on non-packetswitching (e.g., quadrature amplitude modulation based content stream)and/or packet switching (e.g., internet protocol based content stream).The content channels may be associated with corresponding numbers orother titles. The content may also comprise content on demand, recordedcontent, live content, streaming content, and/or the like. The contentmay comprise video, audio, text, metadata, and/or the like.

The system 100 may store information associated with the content (e.g.,for use by services associated with the content). The information device104 may be configured to store the information associated with thecontent. The information device 104 may comprise one or more computingdevices, such as one or more servers, databases, and/or the like. Theinformation device 104 may comprise an electronic programming guide(EPG). The information device 104 may store the information associatedwith the content in a database, a distributed file system, and/or thelike. The information associated with the content may comprise metadata,such as show titles, show identifiers, genre, actor, network, and/or thelike. The information associated with content may comprise start times,end times, schedules, and/or the like associated with specific contentitems, such as shows, programs, movies, newscast, sportscast, and/or thelike. The information associated with the content may compriseadvertising information, such as start times, end times, schedules,and/or the like associated with specific advertising events (e.g.,breaks, slots, time periods). A particular show may have severaladvertising events. Start times and/or end times of each of theadvertising events may be stored in the information associated with thecontent. The information device 104, may be configured to receivequeries for the information from other devices, such as the secondcontent device 108, the first content device 102, the user device 110,and/or the like.

The system 100 may send (e.g., together or separately) advertisementsand/or other relevant content with the content. The advertisement device106 may be configured to manage the advertisements and/or other relevantcontent. The advertisement device 106 may comprise one or more computingdevices, such as a server. The advertisement device 106 may be managedby a third party provider. The system 100 may be in communication withdifferent advertisement devices managed by different third partyadvertisement providers. The advertisement device 106 may be configuredto access and/or store a plurality of advertisements. The advertisementsmay be associated with one or more advertisement campaigns. Theadvertisement device 106 may store manifests (e.g., index of contentfragments) associated with corresponding advertisements.

The advertisement device 106 may be configured to send an advertisement(e.g., and corresponding manifest) in response to a request for anadvertisement. The advertisement device 106 may be configured to selectan advertisement for a particular user. The advertisement device 106 maybe configured to select the advertisement based on a keyword associatedwith a user. The keyword may comprise a keyword detected in audiocaptured by a device (e.g., the user device 110) associated with theuser. The advertisement device 106 may be configured to store userinformation. The user information may comprise usage information, suchas a history of user behaviors associated with prior advertisements. Theusage information (e.g., the user behaviors) may comprise detectedevents, such as changing a channel, muting an advertisement, unmuting anadvertisement, requesting more information about an advertisement,detection of a keyword captured during an advertisement, detection of aconversation during an advertisement, detection of a lack ofconversation during an advertisement, and/or the like. The usageinformation may comprise determined metrics, such as interest levels,noise levels, and/or the like associated with an advertisement and/oradvertisement event. The user information may comprise demographicinformation for an account. The advertisement device 106 may compriseother information that may be considered when selecting an advertisementfor a video stream associated with an account.

The system 100 may allow a user to access, via the second content device108, the content, the advertisements (e.g., or other relevant content),the information associated with the content, and/or the like. The secondcontent device 108 may be configured to send, output, and/or display thecontent to a user. The second content device 108 may comprise a digitalstreaming device, a digital content device, a set-top box, a contentrecording device, a computing device, and/or the like. The secondcontent device 108 may be in communication with a display, such as atelevision, a monitor, a touchscreen, and/or the like. The secondcontent device 108 may receive content for the user (e.g., from thefirst content device 102). The second content device 108 may receivecontent via a cable access network, a packet switched streaming network,and/or the like. The second content device 108 may comprise one or moretuners for tuning into a plurality of content channels. The secondcontent device 108 may comprise an application interface configured todisplay options for content, such as recorded content, content items,content channels, and/or the like. The application interface may beconfigured to communicate with the first content device 102, theinformation device 104, the advertisement device 106, the analysisdevice 112, and/or the like.

The second content device 108 may be controlled by the user device 110(e.g., to access and/or navigate the content). The user device 110 maycomprise a computing device. The user device 110 may be located at auser premises. The user device 110 may comprise a control device, suchas a remote control, a smart device (e.g., smart watch, smart accessory,smart phone, smart apparel, smart band, smart speaker), a mobile device(e.g., tablet device, electronic reader, mobile phone, laptop), anassistant device (e.g., a virtual assistant). The user device 110 andthe second content device 108 may communicate via a wireless channel.The user device 110 may be wirelessly paired with the second contentdevice 108. The user device 110 may communicate with the second contentdevice 108 using radio frequency (RF) communication, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi,or any other communication method. The second content device 108 maysend a wireless signal to the user device 110 (e.g., based on thepairing). The user device 110 and the second content device 108 may beconfigured for two-way communication. The user device 110 may comprisean application, such as a downloadable application. The application maycomprise navigation controls (e.g., play, pause, fast forward, rewind).The application may comprise a voice command button configured totrigger recording of audio data associated with a voice command.

The user may command the second content device 108 to access differentcontent, such as content items, content channels, and/or the like. Theuser may indicate the command to the user device 110, which may send thecommand to the first content device 102 (e.g., or in some cases, maysend the command directly to the first content device 102). The secondcontent device 108 may be configured to pair with the user device 110.For example, the second content device 108 may authorize, authenticate,and/or the like the user device 110. The user device 110 may authorize,authenticate, and/or the like the second content device 108.

The user device 110 may comprise a data capture component configured tocapture (e.g., measure, record, determine) data associated with theuser. The data capture component may comprise one or more of an audioinput (e.g., microphone, audio receiver), a noise level sensor, agesture detector (e.g., keystroke recorder, swipe recorder), a videorecorder, camera, a heart rate detector, a light sensor, accelerometer,pressure sensor, touch sensor, and/or the like. The data capturecomponent may be configured to capture data based on user input, such asa user pressing a button. The user may press a voice control and speakone or more commands to the user device 110. The data capture componentmay be triggered without a button, such as in response to a gesture,movement, or audio command. The data capture component may be triggeredby another device, such as the second content device 108, the firstcontent device 102, the advertisement device, and/or the like.

The second content device 108 may be configured to trigger the datacapture component based on an advertising event (e.g., rendering ofadvertisement, advertisement break, advertisement slot, advertisementopportunity, advertisement time period). The second content device 108may be configured to determine timing information for an advertisingevent. The timing information may comprise a start time of theadvertising event, an end time of the advertising event, a duration ofthe advertising event, and/or the like. The timing information may bedetermined by querying the information device 104. The timinginformation may be received from the first content device 102 by thesecond content device 108. The timing information may be embedded in,packaged with, and/or received with the content. The timing informationmay comprise an advertisement cue (e.g., SCTE signal). The timinginformation may comprise a metadata field in a content stream of thecontent. The timing information may be received in a manifest file. Themanifest file may comprise an indication of a plurality of contentsegments, locations for accessing the content segments, timinginformation associated with the segments, and/or the like. The manifestfile may identify the advertising event, a start time of the advertisingevent, an end time of the advertising event, and/or ordering of theadvertising event in relation to the content, and/or the like.

The second content device 108 may be configured to cause activation ofthe data capture component. The activation may be based on the timinginformation. The second content device 108 may be configured todetermine a data capture time. The data capture time may be based on thetiming information associated with the advertising event. The datacapture time may be determined by adding and/or subtracting apre-determined time (e.g., pre-ad time or post ad time) from at least aportion of the timing information (e.g., the start time, the end time).The data capture time may be a pre-determined time before or after thestart time of the advertising event. The second content device 108 maybe configured to cause activation of the data capture component at thedata capture time.

The user device 110 may send an acknowledgment indicating that the datacapture component has been modified (e.g., activated, deactivated,changed from one mode to another). In some scenarios, permission may berequested of the user to activate the data capture component. The userdevice 110 may be authorized before activation of the data capturecomponent is caused. An application may be granted access to the datacapture component (e.g., the audio input or microphone) by changing anoperating system setting and/or other application setting.

The second content device 108 may cause the data capture component ofthe user device 110 to activate at a first time prior to the advertisingevent. The second content device 108 may cause an audio input (e.g.,microphone) on the user device 110 to activate at the first time priorto the advertising event. The first time may comprise the data capturetime. The second content device 108 may receive data (e.g., audio,video, sensor data, captured text, movements) from the data capturecomponent of the user device 110 at the first time prior to theadvertising event. The second content device 108 may receive audio datafrom the audio input of the user device 110 at the first time prior tothe advertising event. The second content device 108 may determine afirst metric associated with the first time. The first metric maycomprise a lowest level (e.g., lowest noise level) of a portion of theaudio data associated with (e.g., or captured at) the first time. Thefirst metric may comprise a loudest level (e.g., loudest noise level) ofthe portion of the audio data associated with the first time. The firstmetric may comprise a first range (e.g., noise level range) comprisingthe lowest level to the highest level. The second content device 108 mayforward (e.g., send, transmit, transfer, route, etc.) the captured data(e.g., audio data) received at the first time prior to the advertisingevent and/or first metric to the analysis device 112 via the network114. The analysis device 112 may determine the lowest level and theloudest level (e.g., the first range) associated with the audio datareceived at the first time prior to the advertising event.

The data capture component on the user device 110 may continue capturingdata at a second time during the advertising event. The audio input onthe user device 110 may continue receiving audio data at the second timeduring the advertising event. The second content device 108 may receivethe audio data from the audio input of the user device 110 at the secondtime during the advertising event. The second content device 108 maydetect usage information based on the audio data received at the secondtime during the advertising event. The usage information may beindicative of user behavior during the advertising event. The secondcontent device 108 may send (e.g., forward, transmit, transfer, route,etc.) the audio data received at the second time during the advertisingevent to the analysis device 112 via the network 114. The analysisdevice 112 may determine the usage information based on the audio datareceived at the second time during the advertising event. The analysisdevice 112 may also determine the additional metrics.

Determining usage information may comprise determining audio associatedwith the advertising event is muted, determining audio associated withthe advertising event is unmuted, determining that a conversation istaking place, the like, and/or any combination of the foregoing. If theloudest level of the first range is not detected in the audio datareceived at the second time during the advertising event, then adetermination may be made that audio associated with the advertisingevent is muted. If audio associated with the advertising event isdetermined to be muted and if the loudest level of the first range issubsequently detected in the audio data received at the second timeduring the advertising event, then a determination may be made thataudio associated with the advertising event is unmuted. If the audiodata received at the second time during the advertising event is louderthan the loudest level of the first range, then a determination may bemade that the audio data received at the second time comprises aconversation. If the audio data received at the second time during theadvertising event indicates a change in ambient noise, whether a mute isdetected or not, then a determination may be made that the audio datareceived at the second time comprises a conversation.

The second content device 108 may determine an interest in anadvertisement in the advertising event based on the usage information.The interest may be determined based on an association (e.g., ormapping) of detected events (e.g., or combination of events) tocorresponding interests (e.g., interest levels). A determination thataudio associated with the advertising event is muted may indicatedisinterest in an associated advertisement. A determination that audioassociated with the advertising event is unmuted may indicate interestin an associated advertisement. If there is a determination that theaudio data received at the second time comprises a conversation, theaudio associated with the advertisement may be filtered out resulting infiltered audio data. The filtered audio data (e.g., or the audio datareceived at the second time, if the audio data is not filtered) may beanalyzed using one or more natural language processing (NLP)applications to detect one or more keywords. Detection of a keyword mayindicate interest in an associated advertisement. Failure to detect akeyword may indicate disinterest in an associated advertisement. Theusage information may be updated to comprise the interest.

One or more additional metrics may also be determined (e.g., based onthe data). The usage information may be determined based on the one ormore additional metrics. The one or more additional metrics may be usedto determine an operation for determining the usage information. If theone or more additional metrics indicate a certain language, it may bedetermined to perform a translation operation, to change a setting of anatural language processor, and/or the like. The one or more additionalmetrics may comprise a language, a dialect, a number of different voices(e.g., different people) detected, an estimated gender, an estimate age,and/or like. If a foreign language is detected in audio data, then theforeign language may be translated into the language used to analyze theaudio data. A keyword associated with an advertisement may be translatedinto the detected language for determining whether the keyword wasspoken. The one or more additional metrics (e.g. or other information,such as user profile data) may be used to exclude certain results (e.g.,as outlier data). If the number of detected voices is greater than istypically detected, it may be determined that the audio data includespeople who do not live at a location. If the data does not match userprofile data (e.g., voice signature of a user), then the data may beexcluded. The one or more additional metrics may also be sent to theadvertisement device 106 and/or the analysis device 112.

The user device 110 may be caused to deactivate (e.g., or change fromactive listening mode to passive listening mode) the data capturecomponent if a deactivation event is detected. The deactivation eventmay indicate that a user is not engaged in viewing content. The userdevice 110 may detect a channel change command and determine todeactivate the data capture component. The second content device 108 mayreceive data from another device such as a camera, a motion sensor,wearable device, virtual assistance (e.g., smart speaker), and/or thelike indicating that the user has left a room where the content isdisplayed. The second content device 108 may send a message todeactivate the data capture component, if it is determined that the userleft the room.

The system 100 may be configured to use the analysis device 112 toprocess data (e.g., recorded audio data) from the second content device108. The second content device 108 may send (e.g., forward, transmit,transfer, route, etc.) the usage information (e.g., detected events) tothe analysis device 112 via the network 114. The analysis device 112 maydetermine an interest in an advertisement in the advertising event basedon the usage information. The analysis device 112 may be configured toaccess and/or store a user profile associated with a user, an account, alocation, and/or the like. The user profile may comprise a history ofuser behavior, a history of metrics (e.g., noise levels), a history ofkeywords detected, a history of advertisements viewed, and/or the like.The analysis device 112 may receive data (e.g., audio data, or otherdata from the data capture component) from a plurality of user devicesat different locations. The analysis device 112 may queue the data fromthe plurality of user devices for analysis. The analysis device 112 mayleverage cloud computing or other distributed processing techniques toprocess the data. The analysis device 112 may be able to determinetrends, patterns, and/or the like in the data from different users. Forexample, the analysis device 112 may determine that more users incertain demographic categories (e.g., location, gender, age, race,language) reacted to an advertisement and/or did not react to anadvertisement.

The analysis device 112 may be configured to perform different types ofanalysis based on one or more rules. The one or more rules may comprisea rule that if a noise level does not change during the advertisingevent, then no keyword search will be performed. The one or more rulesmay comprise a rule that if the noise level does change (e.g.,indicating conversation is taking place), then the data will beprocessed (e.g., natural language processing) to determine if anykeywords associated with an advertisement or advertisement event aredetected.

The analysis device 112 may be configured to prioritize data analysis.The data analysis may be prioritized based on history, rules, machinelearning, pattern detection, and/or the like. If a user device 110 isassociated with a profile that has less data (e.g., than a threshold,than average), then processing the data received from that user device110 may be prioritized above processing data from other user devices. Ifa user device 110 is associated with a profile that has a history ofsuccessful analysis (e.g., detection of user reaction to advertisement)and/or advertising, then processing the data received from that userdevice 110 may be prioritized above processing data from other userdevices. Some user devices 110 may be excluded from data analysis. Anexcluded device may comprise a device associated with noise (e.g., manypeople talking, lots of background noise), a device for which a user hasnot granted data capture permission, a device for which a user hasrequested that data permission not be performed, a device associatedwith a subscription tier (e.g., a higher tier with no advertisements), adevice associated with a user under a certain age, and/or the like. Userdevices 110 may be excluded and/or prioritized based on demographics,such as age of user, race or language of user, gender of user,geographic location (e.g., apartment, city, suburb, rural) of the user,and/or the like. For example, if a user is located in an apartment andan advertisement is targeting people with yards, then data captured fromthe user located in the apartment may be excluded. In some scenarios,the second content device 108 (e.g., or the analysis device 112) may beable to use the demographic information to determine whether to causeactivation of the data capture component. The data capture component ofa user device 110 of the user in the apartment may not be activated ifthe user does not match the target audience of an advertisementassociated with the advertising event.

The analysis device 112 may be configured to determine a portion of thedata associated with a particular user at a location, which has severalusers (e.g., a family, roommates). The analysis device 112 may beconfigured to determine a portion of audio data associated with aspecific user based on a voice signature, a frequency, loudness, speed,and/or other information. If the specific user matches a target audience(e.g., based on age, gender, race, other user profile information), theanalysis device 112 may prioritize analysis of the portion of data(e.g., audio data) associated with the specific user. If the user doesnot match the target audience, the analysis device 112 may be configuredto exclude the portion of the data associated with the specific user.

The analysis device 112 and/or the second content device 108 may sendthe detected events, usage information, and/or interest to theadvertisement device 106. The advertisement device 106 may receive(e.g., from the second content device 108 or the analysis device 112)the usage information and/or data indicative of the determined interestin the advertisement. The advertisement device 106 may update an accountassociated with the second content device 108 based on the receivedusage information and/or data indicative of the determined interest inthe advertisement. The advertisement device 106 may base futureselections of advertisements, at least in part, on the updated account.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example system 200 for determininguser behavior. The system 200 may comprise a network 202, anadvertisement server 204, a termination system 206, a set-top box 208, aremote control 210, a detection device 212, a user profile database 214,and/or the like.

The network 202 may comprise a video backend, a content access and/ordelivery network, and/or the like. The network 202 may be configured toenable communication between the set-top box 208, the detection device212, a user profile database 214, and the advertisement server 204. Theset-top box 208 may be associated with an account. The remote control210 may communicate with the set-top box 208 using radio frequency (RF)communication, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or any other communication method. Theremote control 210 may comprise an audio input (e.g., a microphone). Theset-top box 208 may be in communication with the termination system 206via coaxial cable, fiber optical links, the like, and/or any combinationof the foregoing.

The advertisement server 204 may send advertisement information (e.g.,an advertisement cue, start time, manifest, the one or more keywords,fragment locations) to the set-top box 208 via the network 202 and thetermination system 206. The advertisement information may comprise amanifest. The advertisement server 204 may comprise a plurality ofadvertisement manifests. Each of the advertisement manifests may beassociated with corresponding advertising content. The advertisementmanifests may comprise one or more keywords indicative of topics,products, subjects, genres, actors, media campaigns (e.g., hashtag withkeyword), and/or the like relevant to the corresponding advertisingcontent. The advertisement information may comprise Society of CableTelecommunications Engineers (SCTE)-30 and/or SCTE-35 signaling. Theadvertisement information may indicate that an advertising event isupcoming. The advertisement server 204 may cause the detection device212 to receive the advertisement manifest and/or one or more desiredkeywords from the advertisement manifest. The advertisement manifest maybe associated with at least one of the one or more advertisements.

The termination system 206 may comprise a cable modem terminationsystems, a cable headend, and/or the like. The set-top box 208 maycommunicate with the termination system 206 using Data Over CableService Interface Specification (DOCSIS). The set-top box 208 mayreceive content, from the termination system 206, as a plurality ofcontent channels sent in one or more transport streams to a plurality ofusers. The network 202 may comprise a service network associated with aservice premises or a distributed content access and/or delivery system.The advertising information may be sent via the termination system 206to the set-top box 208.

The set-top box 208 may cause, in response to the advertisinginformation, the remote control 210 to activate the audio input. Theremote control may send audio data received from the audio input to theset-top box 208. The set-top box 208 may determine the lowest level andthe loudest level (e.g., the audio range) before an advertising eventassociated with the advertising information. The advertising event maycomprise one or more advertisements.

The audio input of the remote control 210 may continue to capture audiodata during the advertising event. The remote control 210 may send theaudio data to the set-top box 208. The set-top box 208 may determine oneor more metrics and/or usage information based on the audio datacaptured during the advertising event. If the loudest level of the audiorange is not detected in the audio data captured during the advertisingevent, then a mute of the audio output associated with the advertisingevent may be detected. If the loudest level of the audio range isdetected in the audio data captured during the advertising event, thenno mute of the audio output associated with the advertising event may bedetected. If a mute is detected and then the loudest level of the audiorange is detected in the audio data captured during the advertisingevent, then an unmute may be detected. If ambient noise increases abovethe loudest level of the audio range, then a conversation may bedetected. If a change in ambient noise is detected, then a conversationmay be detected. A user may intentionally indicate feedback. A user mayrequest information associated with an advertisement.

The set-top box 208 may send, to the detection device 212 via thetermination system 206 and the network 202, the audio data, the usageinformation, and/or the one or more metrics. Advertisement informationmay also be sent. The advertisement information may comprise anidentification of an advertisement associated with the detected audiodata, the usage information, and/or the one or more metrics. Thedetection device 212 may use the detected audio data, the usageinformation, and/or the one or more metrics to determine an interestlevel in an advertisement. In some scenarios, the detection device 212may only receive the audio data and may use the audio data to determinethe usage information, the one or more metrics, and/or the interest. Theset-top box 208 may send the user request for the advertisementinformation to the detection device 212. Other data sensor data and/oruser input may also be captured and analyzed.

If a mute is detected, then disinterest in the advertisement associatedwith the advertising event may be determined. If an unmute is detected,then interest in the advertisement associated with the advertising eventmay be determined. If a conversation is detected, then any audioassociated with the advertisement associated with advertising event maybe filtered out. The conversation may be parsed using natural languageprocessing (NLP) and words in the conversation may be identified. Thedetection device 212 may compare identified words with one or morekeywords associated with an advertisement. If the comparison ofidentified words with one or more keywords indicates a match, theninterest in the advertisement associated with the detected cues may bedetected. If the comparison of identified words with desired keywordsindicates no match, then disinterest in the advertisement associatedwith the advertising event may be determined.

The detection device 212 may send the determined usage informationand/or interest (e.g., interest level) to the user profile database 214via the network 202. The user profile database 214 may updateinformation associated with the account associated with the set-top box208 based on the determined usage information and/or interest. Futureadvertisements served to the set-top box 208 by the advertisement server204 may be determined based on the information associated with theaccount associated with the set-top box 208 in the user profile database214. The detection device 212 may cause the advertisement server 204 todeliver the specific advertisement requested to the set-top box 208. Theset-top box 208 may cause the audio input on the remote control 210 todiscontinue recording audio data when the advertising event is overand/or when the set-top box 208 is tuned to a different channel.

In some implementations, audio after the advertising event may be usedin addition to or instead of audio before the advertising event. A noiselevel associated with (e.g., or based on) audio data captured after theadvertising event may be compared to a noise level (e.g., or based on)associated with audio data captured during the advertising event.

FIG. 3A shows an example audio signal 300. The audio signal 300 mayrepresent audio data recorded just prior to an advertising event. Theaudio data may be recorded based on (e.g., in response to) receiving anactivation trigger from a device, such as the second content device 108.The audio data may be recorded by the user device 110. A lower amplitudesection 302 may correspond to a time (e.g., a break in dialogue or othernoise) when no audio (e.g., or less audio) is being output from a mediaplayer (e.g., display, speakers) associated with the second contentdevice 108 of FIG. 1 or the set-top box 208 of FIG. 2 . The loweramplitude section 302 may indicate ambient noise in a room in theabsence of audio from the media player. A higher amplitude section 304may correspond to a time when audio is being output from the mediaplayer. The higher amplitude and/or the lower amplitude may be used todetermine usage information as described herein. Though the higheramplitude is shown as the same across multiple waves, it should beunderstood that the higher amplitude may vary over time (e.g., based onvariations in the content). The lower amplitude may also vary over time.An average higher amplitude may be determined. An average loweramplitude may be determined. The average higher amplitude and/or theaverage lower amplitude may be used to determine usage information asdescribed herein.

FIG. 3B shows an example audio signal 310. The audio signal 310 mayrepresent audio recorded during an advertising event when noconversation takes place. A lower amplitude section 312 may correspondto a time when no audio is being output from the media player. If audiofrom the media player were muted, then all of the audio signal 310 maybe in the lower amplitude section 312. A higher amplitude section 314may correspond to a time when audio is being output from the mediaplayer. The higher amplitude (e.g., or an average thereof) and/or thelower amplitude (e.g., or an average thereof) may be used to determineusage information as described herein.

FIG. 3C shows an example audio signal 320. The audio signal 320 mayrepresent audio recorded during an advertising event when conversationtakes place. A lower amplitude section 322 may correspond to a time whenno audio is being output from the media player (e.g., and when no one istalking in the conversation). A midlevel amplitude section 324 maycorrespond to a time when audio is being output from the media player.If no one is talking in the conversation and the media player isoutputting audio, then audio at the midlevel amplitude section 324 maybe expected. A higher amplitude section 326 may correspond to a timewhen at least one person in a conversation is talking (e.g., the contentmay also be playing in the background). Audio associated with contentplayed during the advertising event (such as the audio represented bythe audio signal 310 in FIG. 3B) may be filtered out of the audio signal320 to leave audio associated with the conversation. Although not shownhere, a conversation may take place when audio from the media player ismuted. A conversation that takes place when audio from the media playeris muted may be recorded as an audio signal for processing as well. Theconversation may be processed to find keywords associated withadvertisements in the advertising event. Additional audio factors, suchas pitch, tone, etc., may be processed to determine (e.g., estimate,etc.) a demographic of a viewer of the media player. The additionalaudio factors may also be used to determine usage information, aninterest in an advertisement in the advertising event, a user presentduring the advertising event, demographics (e.g., age, gender)associated with the user, and/or the like.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing an example method 400 for determiningusage information. At step 410, an advertising event associated withcontent may be determined. Determining the advertising event associatedwith the content may comprise determining, by a content deviceconfigured to receive content, the advertising event. The content devicemay be located at a user premises associated with a user of a contentservice. The set-top box 208 in FIG. 2 may determine an advertisingevent associated with content. The detection device 212 in FIG. 2 maydetermine an advertising event associated with content. The content maybe received based on the content service. The advertising event may bedetermined based on one or more of an electronic program guide, amanifest, or an advertising cue.

At step 420, activation of an audio input may be caused. The audio inputmay comprise an audio input device, audio input component, audioreceiver, microphone, and/or the like. The activation may be causedbased on determining the advertising event. The set-top box 208 in FIG.2 may cause activation of an audio input based on determining theadvertising event. The detection device 212 in FIG. 2 may causeactivation of the audio input based on determining the advertisingevent. The audio input may be comprised in a control device configuredto navigate the content. The control device may comprise a remotecontrol, a mobile device, a smart device (e.g., a smart speaker, a smartapparel, a smart watch, a virtual assistant). Causing, based ondetermining the advertising event, activation of the audio input maycomprise causing activation of the audio input at a first time beforethe advertising event. Causing activation of the audio input maycomprise causing, by a content device located at a user premises,activation of the audio input. Causing activation of the audio input maycomprise sending, to a control device comprising the audio input, awireless signal, an infrared signal, a message, and/or the like. In somescenarios, the audio input may already be activated. Causing activationof the audio input may comprise confirming that the audio input isactive. Causing activation of the audio input may comprise causing theaudio input to change from a first mode to a second mode. The first modemay comprise a passive listening mode (e.g., only send audio data when akeyword is detected). The second mode may comprise an active listeningmode (e.g., record and/or send all audio data).

At step 430, audio data may be received via the activated audio input.The set-top box 208 in FIG. 2 may receive audio data via the activatedaudio input. The detection device 212 in FIG. 2 may receive audio datavia the activated audio input. Receiving, via the activated audio input,audio data may comprise receiving, via one or more of a wireless link oran infrared link, the audio data.

At step 440, one or more of a detected keyword or a first noise levelmay be determined based on the audio data. The set-top box 208 in FIG. 2may determine one or more of a detected keyword or a first noise levelbased on the audio data. The detection device 212 in FIG. 2 maydetermine one or more of a detected keyword or a first noise level basedon the audio data. Determining one or more of a detected keyword or afirst noise level may comprise determining the first noise level basedon the first time and a second noise level based on a second time duringthe advertising event. Determining one or more of a detected keyword ora first noise level may comprise sending the audio data to a computingdevice located external to the user premises. The one or more of thedetected keyword or the first noise level may be received from thecomputing device.

At step 450, usage information may be sent. The usage information may beindicative of user behavior associated with the advertising event. Theset-top box 208 in FIG. 2 may send the usage information may be based onone or more of the detected keyword or the first noise level. Thedetection device 212 in FIG. 2 may send usage information indicative ofuser behavior associated with the advertising event based on one or moreof the detected keyword or the first noise level. The usage informationmay comprise an advertising metric. The usage information may bedetermined based on one or more of the detected keyword or the firstnoise level. The set-top box 208 in FIG. 2 may determine the usageinformation based on one or more of the detected keyword or the firstnoise level. The detection device 212 in FIG. 2 may determine the usageinformation based on one or more of the detected keyword or the firstnoise level. The usage information may comprise one or more of anindication that a user was present during the advertising event, anindication that the user was absent during the advertising event, anindication that the user talked during the advertising event, anindication that the user was silent during the advertising event, anindication that the user adjusted a volume of an advertisementassociated with advertising event, an indication that the user discussedthe advertisement associated with the advertising event, a combinationthereof, and/or the like. Determining the usage information may comprisedetermining whether the detected keyword matches a keyword associatedwith the advertising event. Determining whether the detected keywordmatches a keyword associated with the advertising event may comprisedetermining the keyword associated with the advertising event based onmetadata in one or more of a manifest, a field of the content, or anelectronic program guide. Determining the usage information may comprisecomparing the first noise level to a threshold noise level indicative ofuser interest in viewing content. Determining the usage information maycomprise comparing the first noise level to a second noise level. Thefirst noise level may be associated with a first time before or afterthe advertising event. The second noise level may be associated with asecond time during the advertising event. The audio input may be causedto deactivate at a time associated with an ending of the advertisingevent. The set-top box 208 in FIG. 2 may cause the audio input todeactivate at a time associated with an ending of the advertising event.The detection device 212 in FIG. 2 may cause the audio input todeactivate at a time associated with an ending of the advertising event.

A user may be watching television via a content device (e.g., a set-topbox, a digital streaming device, a digital content device) located at apremises of the user. The content device may determine an advertisingevent. The content device may receive an indication of an incomingadvertising event from an advertisement server. The user may control thecontent device using a remote control or a smart phone running anapplication associated with a content service. The content device maycause activation of an audio input (e.g., microphone) on a remotecontrol or the smart phone to activate in response to the indication ofthe incoming advertising event. The audio input may capture ambientnoise as the television is playing just before the advertising event.The advertisement server may send one or more advertisements associatedwith the advertising event to the content device. The content device maycause the one or more advertisements to be output on the televisionduring the advertising event. The audio input may continue to captureaudio during the advertising event. Audio data at a first time duringthe advertising event may be at a lower level observed prior to theadvertising event. A determination may be made that the television audiois muted. Audio data at a subsequent time during the advertising eventmay be consistent with a range observed prior to the advertising event.A determination may be made that the television audio was unmuted duringa currently output advertisement. The content device may send thedetermination that the television was unmuted during the currentadvertisement to the detection device, along with information about thecurrent advertisement. The detection device may determine that a userassociated with the content device is interested in the advertisement.The detection device may cause the user profile database to be updatedwith the determination that the user is interested in the advertisement.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing an example method for determining usageinformation. At step 510, a first start time associated with anadvertising event may be determined. The set-top box 208 in FIG. 2 maydetermine a first start time associated with an advertising event. Thedetection device 212 in FIG. 2 may determine a first start timeassociated with an advertising event. The determining the first starttime associated with the advertising event may comprise determining, bya content device configured to receive content, that the first starttime is associated with the advertising event. The content device may belocated at a user premises associated with a user of a content service.The content may be received based on the content service. The firststart time may be determined based on one or more of an electronicprogram guide, a manifest, or an advertising cue.

At step 520, a second start time associated with enabling a data capturecomponent (e.g., audio input, microphone) of a control device (e.g., ora remote device, a remote control, a mobile device, a sensor, a tabletdevice, a smart phone, a smart watch, smart glasses, smart apparel) maybe determined based on the first start time. The set-top box 208 in FIG.2 may determine a second start time associated with enabling a datacapture component of the remote control 210 of FIG. 2 based on the firststart time. The detection device 212 in FIG. 2 may determine a secondstart time associated with enabling a data capture component of thecontrol device based on the first start time.

At step 530, an instruction to activate (e.g., or cause activation) adata capture component (e.g., a microphone) of the control device may besent to the control device at the second start time. The set-top box 208in FIG. 2 may send the remote control 210 of FIG. 2 an instruction toactivate the data capture component at the second start time. Thedetection device 212 in FIG. 2 may send an instruction to activate thedata capture component at the second start time. The control device maybe configured to navigate content. The control device may comprise aremote control or a mobile device. The control device may comprise adisplay (e.g., a screen, a touchscreen) or may not have a display. Thecontrol device may comprise a plurality of navigation buttons (e.g. withor without a display). The data capture component may comprise one ormore of an audio input (e.g., microphone, noise level sensor, noisedetector), a camera, a video camera, a light sensor, an accelerometer, agyroscope, a global positioning system sensor, a key logger, and/or anyother data capturing mechanism. Sending the instruction to activate, atthe second start time, the data capture component of the control devicemay comprise sending, to the control device, an infrared signal (e.g.,or other wireless signal) comprising the instruction.

In some scenarios, the data capture component may already be activated.The instruction to activate the data capture component may comprise aninstruction to confirm that the audio input is active. The instructionto activate the data capture component may comprise an instruction tochange from a first mode to a second mode. The first mode may comprise apassive listening mode (e.g., only send audio data when a keyword isdetected). The second mode may comprise an active listening mode (e.g.,record and/or send all audio data).

At step 540, data associated with the data capture component (e.g., themicrophone) may be received from the control device. The data may bereceived based on the instruction. The set-top box 208 in FIG. 2 mayreceive data associated with the audio input from the remote control 210of FIG. 2 and based on the instruction. Detection device 212 in FIG. 2may receive data associated with the data capture component (e.g., themicrophone) from the control device and based on the instruction.Receiving data associated with the data capture component (e.g., themicrophone) may comprise receiving, via one or more of a wireless linkor an infrared link, the data.

At step 550, a first metric associated with the first start time may bedetermined based on at least a first portion of the data. The set-topbox 208 in FIG. 2 may determine a first metric associated with the firststart time based on at least a first portion of the data. The detectiondevice 212 in FIG. 2 may determine a first metric associated with thefirst start time based on at least a first portion of the data. Thefirst portion of the data may comprise data (e.g., audio data or othercaptured data) associated with the advertising event.

At step 560, a second metric associated with the second start time maybe determined based on at least a second portion of the data. Theset-top box 208 in FIG. 2 may determine a second metric associated withthe second start time based on at least a second portion of the data.The detection device 212 in FIG. 2 may determine a second metricassociated with the second start time based on at least a second portionof the data. The second portion of the data may comprise data (e.g.,audio data or other captured data) associated with content played beforethe advertising event.

At step 570, usage information may be sent. The usage information may beindicative of user behavior associated with the advertising event. Theusage information may be based on a comparison of the first metric andthe second metric. The usage information may be sent based on thecomparison. The set-top box 208 in FIG. 2 may send the usage informationbased on a comparison of the first metric and the second metric. Thedetection device 212 in FIG. 2 may send the usage information based on acomparison of the first metric and the second metric. The usageinformation may comprise an advertising metric. The usage informationmay be determined based on the comparison. The set-top box 208 in FIG. 2may determine the usage information based on the comparison. Thedetection device 212 in FIG. 2 may determine the usage information basedon the comparison. The usage information may comprise one or more of anindication that a user was present during the advertising event, anindication that the user was absent during the advertising event, anindication that the user talked during the advertising event, anindication that the user was silent during the advertising event, anindication that the user adjusted a volume of an advertisementassociated with advertising event, an indication that the user discussedthe advertisement associated with the advertising event, a combinationthereof, and/or the like. Determining the usage information may comprisedetermining, based on the first portion of the data, a keyword. It canbe determined whether the keyword matches a keyword associated with theadvertising event. Determining whether the keyword matches a keywordassociated with the advertising event may comprise determining thekeyword associated with the advertising event based on metadata in oneor more of a manifest, a field of content associated with theadvertising event, or an electronic program guide. The first metric maycomprise a first noise level and the second metric may comprise a secondnoise level. Determining the usage information may comprise comparingthe first noise level to a threshold noise level indicative of userinterest in viewing content. Determining the usage information maycomprise comparing the first noise level to the second noise level. Thedata capture component (e.g., the microphone) may be caused todeactivate at a time associated with an ending of the advertising event.The set-top box 208 in FIG. 2 may cause the data capture component(e.g., the microphone) to deactivate at a time associated with an endingof the advertising event. The detection device 212 in FIG. 2 may causethe data capture component (e.g., the microphone) to deactivate at atime associated with an ending of the advertising event.

A user may be watching television via a content device (e.g., a set-topbox). The content device may be located at a user premises. The contentdevice may be associated (e.g., paired) with a remote control. Thecontent device may receive an indication of an upcoming advertisingevent from an advertisement server. The content device may determine anupcoming advertising event based on an advertisement cue (e.g., an SCTEfield) sent with the content. The content device may cause a datacapture component (e.g., the microphone) on the remote control toactivate in response to the indication of the upcoming advertisingevent. The data capture component (e.g., the microphone) may captureambient noise as the television is playing just before the advertisingevent. The advertisement server may send one or more advertisementsassociated with the advertising event to the content box. Theadvertisements may already be embedded in the content. The contentdevice may cause the one or more advertisements to be output on thetelevision during the advertising event. The data capture component(e.g., the microphone) may continue to capture data (e.g., audio data)during the advertising event. The content device may detect a channelchange. The content device may cause the data capture component (e.g.,the microphone) to deactivate in response to the channel change.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram showing an example method of determining usageinformation. At step 610, an advertising event associated with contentmay be determined. The set-top box 208 in FIG. 2 may determine anadvertising event associated with content. The determining theadvertising event associated with the content may comprise determining,by a content device configured to receive content, the advertisingevent. The content device may be located at a user premises associatedwith a user of a content service. The content may be received based onthe content service. The advertising event may be determined based onone or more of an electronic program guide, a manifest, or anadvertising cue.

At step 620, activation of an audio input (e.g., or other data capturecomponent) may be caused. Activation of the audio input may be causedbased on determining the advertising event. The audio input may comprisean audio input device, audio input component, audio receiver,microphone, and/or the like. The set-top box 208 in FIG. 2 may causeactivation of an audio input (e.g., a microphone) based on determiningthe advertising event. The audio input may be comprised in a controldevice configured to navigate the content. The control device maycomprise a remote control or a mobile device. Causing, based ondetermining the advertising event, activation of the audio input maycomprise causing the audio input to activate at a first time before theadvertising event. Causing activation of the audio input may comprisesending, to a control device comprising the audio input, an infraredsignal. In some scenarios, the audio input may already be activated.Causing activation of the audio input may comprise confirming that theaudio input is active. Causing activation of the audio input maycomprise causing the audio input to change from a first mode to a secondmode. The first mode may comprise a passive listening mode (e.g., onlysend audio data when a keyword is detected). The second mode maycomprise an active listening mode (e.g., record and/or send all audiodata).

At step 630, audio data (e.g., or other data) associated with the audioinput may be received via the activated audio input. The audio data maybe associated with (e.g., identified as received from and/or generatedby) the audio input. The set-top box 208 in FIG. 2 may receive audiodata via the activated audio input. Receiving, via the activated audioinput, audio data may comprise receiving, via one or more of a wirelesslink or an infrared link, the audio data. The audio data may be receivedfrom the control device. The audio data may be encoded, compressed,encrypted, and/or the like by the control device.

At step 640, the audio data (e.g., or the other data) may be sent to ananalysis device. The set-top box 208 in FIG. 2 may send the audio datato the detection device 212 in FIG. 2 . The analysis device may beconfigured to determine usage information indicative of user behaviorassociated with the advertising event based on the audio data. Thecontent device may be located at a user premises. The analysis devicemay be located external to the user premises. The usage information maycomprise an advertising metric. The analysis device may be configured todetermine, based on the audio data, one or more of a keyword or a firstnoise level and determine based on one or more of the keyword or thefirst noise level, the usage information. The usage information maycomprise one or more of an indication that a user was present during theadvertising event, an indication that the user was absent during theadvertising event, an indication that the user talked during theadvertising event, an indication that the user was silent during theadvertising event, an indication that the user adjusted a volume of anadvertisement associated with advertising event, an indication that theuser discussed the advertisement associated with the advertising event,a combination thereof, and/or the like. The analysis device beingconfigured to determine the usage information may comprise the analysisdevice being configured to determine whether the keyword matches akeyword associated with the advertising event. The analysis device beingconfigured to determine whether the keyword matches a keyword associatedwith the advertising event may comprise the analysis device beingconfigured to determine the keyword associated with the advertisingevent based on metadata in one or more of a manifest, a field of thecontent, or an electronic program guide. The analysis device beingconfigured to determine the usage information may comprise the analysisdevice being configured to compare the first noise level to a thresholdnoise level indicative of user interest in viewing content. Determiningthe usage information may comprise comparing the first noise level to asecond noise level. The first noise level may be associated with a firsttime before or after the advertising event and the second noise levelmay be associated with a second time during the advertising event. Theaudio input may be caused to deactivate at a time associated with anending of the advertising event. The set-top box 208 in FIG. 2 may causethe audio input to deactivate at a time associated with an ending of theadvertising event.

A user may be watching television via a content device (e.g., a set topbox). The content device may be located at a premises of the user. Thecontent device may be associated with a remote control. The contentdevice may determine an indication of an upcoming advertising event. Thecontent device may receive an indication of an incoming advertisingevent from an advertisement server. The content device may cause anaudio input (e.g., microphone) on the remote control to activate inresponse to determining the indication of the upcoming advertisingevent. The audio input may receive an instruction capture ambient noiseas the television is playing at a first time before the start of theadvertising event. The advertisement server may send one or moreadvertisements associated with the advertising event to the contentdevice. The advertisement server may send one or more keywordsassociated with the one or more advertisements to a detection device(e.g., or the content device). The content device may cause the one ormore advertisements to be output on the television during theadvertising event. The audio input may continue to capture audio duringthe advertising event. Audio data captured during the advertising eventmay indicate a change in ambient noise from the ambient noise capturedbefore the advertising event. The content device may send the audio datacomprise audio captured before and during the advertising event to thedetection device. The content device may send advertisement informationto the detection device. The advertisement information may compriseadvertisement audio, an advertisement identifier, an advertisementcampaign, the one or more keywords from the detection device, and/or thelike. The detection device may filter out the advertisement audio fromthe audio data. The detection device may determine conversation audio(e.g., based on the filtered or unfiltered audio). Words within theconversation audio may be identified by using natural languageprocessing. The identified words may be compared against the one or morekeywords associated with the one or more advertisements. The detectiondevice may find a match between the identified words and the one or morereceived keywords. The detection device may determine usage information,such as an interest in an advertisement associated with the one or morematched keywords. The identified words may also be matched against oneor commands. The commands may comprise a command to interact theadvertisement, a command to search more about a subject and/or topicindicated in the advertisement, a command to send a message (e.g., asocial media message) based on the advertisement, and/or the like. Theusage information may indicate that the user discussed theadvertisement, interacted with the advertisement, performed an actionbased on the advertisement, and/or the like. The detection device mayupdate a user profile database based on the determined interest in theadvertisement. FIG. 7 shows an example computer architecture for acomputer 700 configured to execute software for performing operations asdescribed above in connection with FIGS. 1-6 . It will be appreciatedthat the described processes may be performed by any suitable systemcomponents including by discrete computing systems that communicate overa communications link. The computer architecture shown in FIG. 7 shows aconventional server a computer, a workstation, a desktop computer, alaptop, a tablet, a network appliance, a PDA, an e-reader, a digitalcellular phone, or other computing node, and may be utilized to executeany aspects of the software components presented herein.

The computer 700 may include a baseboard, or “motherboard,” which is aprinted circuit board to which a multitude of components or devices maybe connected by way of a system bus or other electrical communicationpaths. One or more central processing units (CPUs) 704 may operate inconjunction with a chipset 706. CPUs 704 may be standard programmableprocessors that perform arithmetic and logical operations necessary forthe operation of computer 700.

The CPUs 704 may perform the necessary operations by transitioning fromone discrete physical state to the next through the manipulation ofswitching elements that differentiate between and change these states.Switching elements may generally include electronic circuits thatmaintain one of two binary states, such as flip-flops, and electroniccircuits that provide an output state based on the logical combinationof the states of one or more other switching elements, such as logicgates. These basic switching elements may be combined to create morecomplex logic circuits including registers, adders-subtractors,arithmetic logic units, floating-point units, and the like.

The chipset 706 may provide an interface between CPUs 704 and theremainder of the components and devices on the baseboard. The chipset706 may provide an interface to a random access memory (RAM) 708 used asthe main memory in computer 700. The chipset 706 may provide aninterface to a computer-readable storage medium, such as a read-onlymemory (ROM) 720 or non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) (not shown), for storingbasic routines that may help to start up the computer 700 and totransfer information between the various components and devices. The ROM720 or NVRAM may also store other software components necessary for theoperation of computer 700 in accordance with the embodiments describedherein.

The computer 700 may operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to remote computing nodes and computer systems through LAN716. The chipset 706 may include functionality for providing networkconnectivity through a network interface controller (NIC) 722, such as agigabit Ethernet adapter. NIC 722 may be configured to connect thecomputer 700 to other computing nodes over the LAN 716. It should beappreciated that multiple NICs 722 may be present in the computer 700,connecting the computer to other types of networks and remote computersystems.

The computer 700 may be connected to a mass storage device 728 thatprovides non-volatile storage for the computer. The mass storage device728 may store system programs, application programs, other programmodules, and data, which have been described in greater detail herein.The mass storage device 728 may be connected to the computer 700 througha storage controller 724 connected to the chipset 706. The mass storagedevice 728 may comprise of one or more physical storage units. Thestorage controller 724 may interface with the physical storage unitsthrough a serial attached SCSI (SAS) interface, a serial advancedtechnology attachment (SATA) interface, a fiber channel (FC) interface,or other type of interface for physically connecting and transferringdata between computers and physical storage units.

The computer 700 may store data on the mass storage device 728 bytransforming the physical state of the physical storage units to reflectthe information being stored. The specific transformation of a physicalstate may depend on various factors and on different implementations ofthis description. Examples of such factors may include, but are notlimited to, the technology used to implement the physical storage unitsand whether the mass storage device 728 is characterized as primary orsecondary storage and the like.

The computer 700 may store information to the mass storage device 728 byissuing instructions through the storage controller 724 to alter themagnetic characteristics of a particular location within a magnetic diskdrive unit, the reflective or refractive characteristics of a particularlocation in an optical storage unit, or the electrical characteristicsof a particular capacitor, transistor, or other discrete component in asolid-state storage unit. Other transformations of physical media arepossible without departing from the scope and spirit of the presentdescription, with the foregoing examples provided only to facilitatethis description. The computer 700 may read information from the massstorage device 728 by detecting the physical states or characteristicsof one or more particular locations within the physical storage units.

The computer 700 may have access to other computer-readable storagemedia to store and retrieve information, such as program modules, datastructures, or other data. It should be appreciated by those skilled inthe art that computer-readable storage media can be any available mediathat provides for the storage of non-transitory data and that may beaccessed by the computer 700.

The computer-readable storage media may include volatile andnon-volatile, transitory computer-readable storage media andnon-transitory computer-readable storage media, removable andnon-removable media implemented in any method or technology.Computer-readable storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM,ROM, erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasableprogrammable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory or other solid-state memorytechnology, compact disc ROM (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD),high definition DVD (HD-DVD), BLU-RAY, or other optical storage,magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, other magneticstorage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store thedesired information in a non-transitory fashion.

The mass storage device 728 may store an operating system utilized tocontrol the operation of the computer 700. According to one embodiment,the operating system comprises a version of the LINUX operating system.According to another embodiment, the operating system may comprise aversion of the WINDOWS SERVER operating system from the MICROSOFTCorporation. The operating system may comprise a version of the UNIXoperating system. It should be appreciated that other operating systemsmay also be utilized. The mass storage device 728 may store other systemor application programs and data utilized by the computer 700, such asthe management component 710 and/or the other software componentsdescribed above. The management component 710 may be configured toimplement the disclosure described herein.

The mass storage device 728 or other computer-readable storage media mayalso be encoded with computer-executable instructions, which, whenloaded into the computer 700, transforms the computer from ageneral-purpose computing system into a special-purpose computer capableof implementing the embodiments described herein. Thesecomputer-executable instructions transform the computer 700 byspecifying how CPUs 704 transition between states, as described above.The computer 700 may have access to computer-readable storage mediastoring computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by thecomputer 700, may perform operating procedures described above inconnection with FIGS. 2-6 .

The computer 700 may also include an input/output controller 732 forreceiving and processing input from a number of input devices, such as akeyboard, a mouse, a touchpad, a touch screen, an electronic stylus, orother type of input device. Similarly, the input/output controller 732may provide output to a display, such as a computer monitor, aflat-panel display, a digital projector, a printer, a plotter, or othertype of output device. It will be appreciated that the computer 700 maynot include all of the components shown in FIG. 7 , may include othercomponents that are not explicitly shown in FIG. 7 , or may utilize anarchitecture completely different than that shown in FIG. 7 .

It should be appreciated that the subject matter presented herein may beimplemented as a computer process, a computer-controlled apparatus, or acomputing system or an article of manufacture, such as acomputer-readable storage medium. While the subject matter describedherein is presented in the general context of program modules thatexecute on one or more computing devices, those skilled in the art willrecognize that other implementations may be performed in combinationwith other types of program modules. Generally, program modules includeroutines, programs, components, data structures, and other types ofstructures that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the subject matterdescribed herein may be practiced on or in conjunction with othercomputer system configurations beyond those described herein, includingmultiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumerelectronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, handheld computers,personal digital assistants, e-readers, cellular telephone devices,special purposed hardware devices, network appliances, and the like. Theembodiments described herein may also be practiced in distributedcomputing environments, where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed computing environment, program modules may be located inboth local and remote memory storage devices.

It will be appreciated that while illustrative embodiments have beendisclosed, the scope of potential embodiments is not limited to thoseexplicitly described. While the concepts are described with reference torequests received to perform particular types of functions or commands,the envisioned embodiments extend to processing involving any and alltypes of functions and commands. Similarly, while the concepts aredescribed with reference to particular protocols and formats, theenvisioned embodiments extend to processing involving any and all typesof protocols and formats.

Each of the processes, methods, and algorithms described in thepreceding sections may be embodied in, and fully or partially automatedby, code modules executed by one or more computers or computerprocessors. The code modules may be stored on any type of non-transitorycomputer-readable medium or computer storage device, such as harddrives, solid state memory, optical disc, and/or the like. The processesand algorithms may be implemented partially or wholly inapplication-specific circuitry. The results of the disclosed processesand process steps may be stored, persistently or otherwise, in any typeof non-transitory computer storage such as, e.g., volatile ornon-volatile storage.

The various features and processes described above may be usedindependently of one another, or may be combined in various ways. Allpossible combinations and subcombinations are intended to fall withinthe scope of this disclosure. In addition or in the alternative, certainmethod or process blocks may be omitted in some implementations. Themethods and processes described herein are also not limited to anyparticular sequence, and the blocks or states relating thereto can beperformed in other sequences that are appropriate. The described blocksor states may be performed in an order other than that specificallydisclosed, or multiple blocks or states may be combined in a singleblock or state. The example blocks or states may be performed in serial,in parallel, or in some other manner. Blocks or states may be added toor removed from the disclosed example embodiments. The example systemsand components described herein may be configured differently thandescribed. The elements may be added to, removed from or rearrangedcompared to the disclosed example embodiments.

It will also be appreciated that various items are shown as being storedin memory or on storage while being used, and that these items orportions of thereof may be transferred between memory and other storagedevices for purposes of memory management and data integrity.Alternatively, in other embodiments some or all of the software modulesand/or systems may execute in memory on another device and communicatewith the computing systems via inter-computer communication. In someembodiments, some or all of the systems and/or modules may beimplemented or provided in other ways, such as at least partially infirmware and/or hardware, including, but not limited to, one or moreapplication-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), standard integratedcircuits, controllers (e.g., by executing appropriate instructions, andincluding microcontrollers and/or embedded controllers),field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), complex programmable logicdevices (CPLDs), etc. Some or all of the modules, systems and datastructures may also be stored (e.g., as software instructions orstructured data) on a computer-readable medium, such as a hard disk, amemory, a network, or a portable media article to be read by anappropriate drive or via an appropriate connection. The systems,modules, and data structures may also be sent as generated data signals(e.g., as part of a carrier wave or other analog or digital propagatedsignal) on a variety of computer-readable transmission media, includingwireless-based and wired/cable-based media, and may take a variety offorms (e.g., as part of a single or multiplexed analog signal or asmultiple discrete digital packets or frames). Such computer programproducts may also take other forms in other embodiments. Accordingly,the features described herein may be practiced with other computersystem configurations.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,”“might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically statedotherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, isgenerally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, whileother embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, and/orsteps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended toimply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required forone or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarilyinclude logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting,whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to beperformed in any particular embodiment. The terms “comprising,”“including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are usedinclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additionalelements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term “or”is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so thatwhen used to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some,or all of the elements in the list.

While certain example embodiments have been described, these embodimentshave been presented by way of example only and are not intended to limitthe scope of the inventions disclosed herein. Thus, nothing in theforegoing description is intended to imply that any particular feature,characteristic, step, module, or block is necessary or indispensable.Indeed, the disclosure described herein may be embodied in a variety ofother forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changesin the form of the disclosure described herein may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the inventions disclosed herein. Theaccompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover suchforms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit ofcertain of the inventions disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: causing, based ondetermining an advertising event associated with content, activation ofan audio reception device; receiving, from the activated audio receptiondevice, audio data; and sending, to an analysis device, the audio data,wherein the analysis device is configured to determine, based on acomparison of a first metric associated with a first portion of theaudio data to a second metric associated with a second portion of theaudio data from before or after the advertisement event, usageinformation indicative of user behavior associated with the advertisingevent.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the audiodata comprises audio data associated with content played before or afterthe advertising event, and wherein the second portion of the audio datacomprises audio data associated with the advertising event.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the usage information comprises at least oneof: an advertising metric, an indication of an event, an indication ofan interest level in an advertisement associated with the advertisingevent, an indication of an interest or disinterest in an advertisementassociated with the advertising event, an indication of muting orunmuting of an advertisement associated with the advertising event, anindication of a conversation, an indication of a lack of conversation,or an indication of a request for information about an advertisementassociated with the advertising event.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinthe first metric comprises a first noise level and the second metriccomprises a second noise level.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereincausing activation of the audio reception device comprises causing, by acontent device configured to receive content, activation of the audioreception device.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio receptiondevice comprises or is comprised in one or more of a computing device, auser device, a control device configured to navigate the content, aremote control, a mobile device, a virtual assistant device, or a voicecontrolled device.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing,based on the usage information, output of an additional advertisement.8. A device comprising: one or more processors; and memory storinginstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe device to: cause, based on determining an advertising eventassociated with content, activation of an audio reception device;receive, from the activated audio reception device, audio data; andsend, to an analysis device, the audio data, wherein the analysis deviceis configured to determine, based on a comparison of a first metricassociated with a first portion of the audio data to a second metricassociated with a second portion of the audio data from before or afterthe advertisement event, usage information indicative of user behaviorassociated with the advertising event.
 9. The device of claim 8, whereinthe first portion of the audio data comprises audio data associated withcontent played before or after the advertising event, and wherein thesecond portion of the audio data comprises audio data associated withthe advertising event.
 10. The device of claim 8, wherein the usageinformation comprises at least one of: an advertising metric, anindication of an event, an indication of an interest level in anadvertisement associated with the advertising event, an indication of aninterest or disinterest in an advertisement associated with theadvertising event, an indication of muting or unmuting of anadvertisement associated with the advertising event, an indication of aconversation, an indication of a lack of conversation, or an indicationof a request for information about an advertisement associated with theadvertising event.
 11. The device of claim 8, wherein the first metriccomprises a first noise level and the second metric comprises a secondnoise level.
 12. The device of claim 8, wherein the instructions that,when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to causeactivation of the audio reception device comprises instructions that,when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to cause,by a content device configured to receive content, activation of theaudio reception device.
 13. The device of claim 8, wherein the audioreception device comprises or is comprised in one or more of a computingdevice, a user device, a control device configured to navigate thecontent, a remote control, a mobile device, a virtual assistant device,or a voice controlled device.
 14. The device of claim 8, wherein theinstructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further causethe device to cause, based on the usage information, output of anadditional advertisement.
 15. A system comprising: a computing deviceconfigured to: cause, based on determining an advertising eventassociated with content, activation of an audio reception device;receive, from the activated audio reception device, audio data; and sendthe audio data; and an analysis device configured to: receive the audiodata; and determine, based on a comparison of a first metric associatedwith a first portion of the audio data to a second metric associatedwith a second portion of the audio data from before or after theadvertisement event, usage information indicative of user behaviorassociated with the advertising event.
 16. The system of claim 15,wherein the first portion of the audio data comprises audio dataassociated with content played before or after the advertising event,and wherein the second portion of the audio data comprises audio dataassociated with the advertising event.
 17. The system of claim 15,wherein the usage information comprises at least one of: an advertisingmetric, an indication of an event, an indication of an interest level inan advertisement associated with the advertising event, an indication ofan interest or disinterest in an advertisement associated with theadvertising event, an indication of muting or unmuting of anadvertisement associated with the advertising event, an indication of aconversation, an indication of a lack of conversation, or an indicationof a request for information about an advertisement associated with theadvertising event.
 18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first metriccomprises a first noise level and the second metric comprises a secondnoise level.
 19. The system of claim 15, wherein the computing devicecomprises a content device configured to receive content.
 20. The systemof claim 15, wherein the audio reception device comprises or iscomprised in one or more of a computing device, a user device, a controldevice configured to navigate the content, a remote control, a mobiledevice, a virtual assistant device, or a voice controlled device.